Roman sculpture (Rooms 83-84)

The Wolfson Galleries1st century
BC – 2nd century AD

Closed until further notice

Sculpture played an important role in both domestic and civic
life in the ancient Roman empire. Statues, sarcophagi and reliefs
were placed in private homes, gardens and public buildings in
cities such as Sardis, Ephesos, Alexandria and Cyrene.

Among the objects on display in Room 83 are a large, elaborately
carved marble vase from the second century AD, popularly known as
the Townley Vase, and sculptures from Cyrenaica. A fragment of a
colossal marble foot is also on display. It was found in Alexandria
and dates to the second century AD.

The eighteenth-century collector and connoisseur Charles Townley
(1737-1805) made the 'Grand Tour' to Italy no less than three
times. Both during his travels and by postal order from his
home in London he purchased large amounts of ancient sculpture. His
extensive collection included Roman statues, busts
and sepulchral chests, sarcophagi, many of which are on
display in Room 84.

A cast of the famous marble bust known as ‘Clytie’, dating from
around AD 40-50, is also on display. The original can be seen in
the Enlightenment Gallery (Room 1) and was said to
be Townley’s favourite sculpture. It later featured prominently in
the painter Johann Zoffany’s portrait of the collector, which is
reproduced in Room 84.